News roundup - Thursday, 9 February, until 3pm

PM says it's big EU countries' turn to help Ukraine

BRUSSELS, Belgium - In his doorstep statement on arrival in Brussels, Prime Minister Robert Golob said he will not announce Slovenia's additional help to Ukraine as he meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Now it is big EU countries' turn to help Ukraine, he said, adding that so far they had been keeping somewhat on the sidelines. Golob also said Slovenia did not support funding fences on the EU's external borders using EU funds, as he commented on a proposal that does not enjoy the support of the European Commission either.

Slovenia sending aid to quake-hit Turkey and Syria

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia continues to send aid to Turkey and Syria after the countries were hit by a devastating earthquake earlier this week. The country is sending material aid worth more than EUR 451,000 to Turkey and humanitarian aid worth EUR 400,000 to Turkey and Syria. First, Slovenia will send tents, hot air blowers and blankets worth EUR 275,400 to help accommodate thousands of people without shelter in southern Turkey. Additional supplies of material aid will follow.

Hisense Europe to open R&D centre in Velenje

VELENJE - The Chinese-owned group Hisense Europe, which includes Velenje-based household appliances maker Gorenje, will open a new innovation centre in Velenje on Monday. The R&D centre will develop household appliances for the European market and kitchen and premium appliances for the global market. This will mean that the group will develop technologies and appliances in Velenje, no matter where the appliances will be produced and for which market, Hisense Europe wrote in the invitation to the event.

Labour Court rules in favour of students in scholarship dispute

LJUBLJANA - Covid-19 legislation provisions that led to results from 2019/20 competitions being disregarded as a criterion in applications for Zois state merit scholarships have been declared as unlawful by the Ljubljana Labour and Social Court, the newspaper Delo reported. The argument was that only 48 of the planned 68 competitions at state level were held during that school year and that only 37% of secondary school students took part. Twelve lawsuits have so far been filed over the issue, with constitutional jurist and law philosopher Andraž Teršek being among those who brought attention to it.

Ljubno wins award for rural development and village renewal

LJUBNO OB SAVINJI - The municipality of Ljubno, a small commune some 40 km north-east from the capital, has received a golden award at the European Competition for Rural Development and Village Renewal. Ljubno was one of 21 participating villages in 12 European countries. This was the 17th rendition of European award for village renewal with the theme Building Bridges, coordinated by the European Association for Rural Development and Village Renewal (ARGE). Austria's Stadtschlaining was declared the overall winner.

Exhibition featuring grave without a body opens in Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - A new exhibition is on display at the City Museum in Ljubljana featuring archaeological findings that date back to the times of the Roman colony Emona, which was located on the site of present-day Ljubljana. The findings, ancient Roman graves, include a very rare find of a grave without a body. Dubbed A Mysterious Grave Without a Body, the exhibition will showcase artefacts from two graves and photographs of the excavation effort. It will run until 8 October.